Designing a brick wall for a friend’s flower beds

[pitchblackvoid]

A homeowner referred by a friend wants a low brick wall edging their flower beds and a pathway to complement it. They're looking for a balance between durability and cost in a freeze/thaw climate like Utah. Thinking about using either a poured concrete wall with a veneer brick finish or standard residential brick with a proper footing below the frost line. Water seepage is a concern, so I'd love tips on keeping this design sturdy without going overboard. Any ideas?

 

[Mr.Everest]

I'd lean toward real brick on a proper footing. Yeah, it's more work up front, but poured concrete with veneer can end up spalling if water gets behind the brick, but with true brick and a good drainage setup (gravel base, weep holes, etc.), it's solid for years, you don't need to overbuild it, just build it smart.

 

[pitchblackvoid]

I'd lean toward real brick on a proper footing. Yeah, it's more work up front, but poured concrete with veneer can end up spalling if water gets behind the brick, but with true brick and a good drainage setup (gravel base, weep holes, etc.), it's solid for years, you don't need to overbuild it, just build it smart.

Thanks for the insight! Using true brick with a proper footing and a smart drainage setup makes a lot of sense. I like the idea of weep holes and a gravel base to manage water. Do you think adding waterproof membrane would help further protect the wall in this climate?

 

[wreckinball]

I'd lean toward real brick on a proper footing. Yeah, it's more work up front, but poured concrete with veneer can end up spalling if water gets behind the brick, but with true brick and a good drainage setup (gravel base, weep holes, etc.), it's solid for years, you don't need to overbuild it, just build it smart.

that's true, but if you do a good job with poured concrete and veneer, you probably won't have that issue and I think it will be a bit cheaper

 

[pitchblackvoid]

that's true, but if you do a good job with poured concrete and veneer, you probably won't have that issue and I think it will be a bit cheaper

Yeah your right, it might save me from water seepage headaches while keeping the budget in check. I'll weigh the options carefully to avoid any costly missteps.

 

[ColdChisel]

I reccommend using solid brick placed on a footing below the frost line for strenght. A veneer over concrete can work as well, but make sure to pay attention to drainage. Adding weep holes or gravel backfill can help. The main point is to keep water away to avoid any heaving.

 

[ChicagoDogz]

A homeowner referred by a friend wants a low brick wall edging their flower beds and a pathway to complement it. They're looking for a balance between durability and cost in a freeze/thaw climate like Utah. Thinking about using either a poured concrete wall with a veneer brick finish or standard residential brick with a proper footing below the frost line. Water seepage is a concern, so I'd love tips on keeping this design sturdy without going overboard. Any ideas?

Yes, adding a waterproof membrane to the back of your brick wall is a good idea. It provides an extra layer of protection against moisture intrusion, significantly reduces the risk of longterm freeze/thaw damage (spalling, mortar deterioration), and helps minimize efflorescence. It's a relatively small added cost and effort during construction that pays dividends in the wall's longevity and appearance

 

[pitchblackvoid]

I'm closing the loop on this and thank everyone for their input. I went the whole nine yards using true brick on a footing below the frost line with a gravel base and a waterproof membrane. The advice here was worth its weight in gold. We finished the project last week and the wall looks built to last!

 

[Sixteen Candles]

I'm closing the loop on this and thank everyone for their input. I went the whole nine yards using true brick on a footing below the frost line with a gravel base and a waterproof membrane. The advice here was worth its weight in gold. We finished the project last week and the wall looks built to last!

By any chance, would you still update this with the photos or just a quick progress report? I got really invested in it and followed the thread for weeks.

 

[Alan]

How did the project turn out? Segemental wall units would be a good option.